IUCN Congress 2016: a green opportunity

15 March 2013 | News story

After a successful World Conservation Congress held in Jeju, Republic of Korea in 2012, IUCN is looking ahead to the next Congress in 2016, and has launched the search for a host country. Please note that the schedule for the process of selecting the Host Country has been modified.

The country which hosts an IUCN World Conservation Congress has the unique opportunity to demonstrate its leadership on global environmental issues and priorities through showcasing national conservation activities and their links to other sectors of government and the economy.

An added benefit will be increased international exposure of the country’s biodiversity, history and culture, as well as associated tourism.

Governments wishing to express an interest in hosting the 2016 IUCN Congress should send a letter of expression of interest to congress@iucn.org no later than 15 May 2013. The Statement of Requirements will be sent to the countries concerned as each expression of interest is received, at the latest on 16 May 2013. The Statement of Requirements will also be posted on IUCN’s public website on 16 May 2013. For more detailed information and to view the selection criteria, please refer to the invitation letter from the IUCN Director General, which has been sent to all IUCN State and Government Agency Members.

The IUCN World Conservation Congress is the world’s premier conservation event comprising the World Conservation Forum and the IUCN Members’ Assembly which altogether last some 8 to 10 days. The Forum, the planet’s biggest marketplace of sustainability knowledge, ideas and solutions, provides governments, NGOs and the private sector an opportunity to engage with each other; to discuss and debate key conservation issues through workshops, training sessions, exhibits, round-table discussions and other networking events.

The Members’ Assembly is a unique global environmental parliament which has initiated many of the most important global conservation initiatives over the past 65 years. More than 1,200 IUCN Members – governments and NGOs – will debate and vote in plenary on a wide range of environment and sustainable development issues and policies. Also on the agenda will be discussion and approval of IUCN’s work programme for the following four years, and elections for IUCN’s President, Treasurer and Council.

More information on the 2012 Congress which brought together more than 6,500 participants is available at www.iucn.org/congress A brochure on the impacts of decisions taken at previous Congresses can be downloaded here.